A Letter from the Director on the Passing of Shibata Sensei XX

At the passing of Onyumishi Kanjuro Shibata XX, I want to take this opportunity to express my deep sadness and heartfelt appreciation.

Shibata Sensei was an exemplar of warriorship. In the last year of his life, he visited Shambhala Mountain Center on a number of occasions in response to a request from the staff to teach warriorship and revitalize the practice of Kyudo at the mountain center. Despite his obvious frailty and need for oxygen at the higher elevation, he came and shared his profound teachings with us. He also invited the staff to his dojo in Boulder, to take first shot with him. This was a warrior for whom there was never a moment of holding back.

This Friday, Sensei will be cremated at Shambhala Mountain Center. We are grateful for this opportunity to pay our respects and support Sensei and the family during this transition. We will be sending further details on Thursday.

Yours in the dharma,

Michael Gayner
Executive Director
Shambhala Mountain Center

Details of Cremation Ceremony at SMC on Friday, October 25th

The cremation ceremony will start at noon, please arrive half an hour early prepared to walk a half mile on rocky mountain paths and be outside for several hours in the mountains (warm hat, gloves, coat). Parking close to the site will be restricted to family. Limited shuttle service will be made available for those that cannot walk.

Light refreshments and sustenance will be available, but full meals will not be available due to the number of guest and nature of the event. We recommend that you bring snacks if you are concerned.

We will be asking for donations to cover the cost of the ceremony and refreshments. We recommend each person donate $25 for themselves, and if they are able to contribute more to cover the cost of those who are less fortunate, it is appreciated. This will cover the family’s costs for the cremation. Any donations beyond the costs of the ceremony will be offered to Shibata Sensei’s dojo.

Please see the comment below for further information on the ceremony in Boulder at the Zenko Iba on Friday morning.

10 thoughts on “A Letter from the Director on the Passing of Shibata Sensei XX”

Thank you for your countless expressions of appreciation and love. This is to briefly update everyone on the schedule, as best we know it right now.

Starting this evening at 5:00pm we will be welcoming anyone who would like to come and practice quietly with Sensei’s body in the Iba. This practice environment will continue 24/7 until Friday morning.

The ceremony at Zenko Iba will take place at 7:00am on Friday morning.

Directly following this, we will head to Shambhala Mountain Center for the cremation ceremony, scheduled for noon on Friday.

We welcome anyone who wishes to come and pay respects and make a connection with Sensei’s passing. Members of the family and I will be sleeping in the Iba throughout the nights. So, if you enter at a late hour, please simply come in, feel free to approach and greet him, then take a seat and know that there may be a few family members stretched out sleeping quietly nearby.

Dear Carolyn,
My heart goes out to you at this time. I am so grateful for the many ways you have made it possible for Sensei to teach. He was one of the most important teachers of my life. Please let me know if there is ever any way I can be of support.
With deep bow and gratitude to him and you,
Dale

Ametsuchi no musubi no naka ni chihayaburu
Kami no mioya no oyaoya to tsutae mashite
Chichihaha no atae tamahishi wake mitama.
Life originated with great vigor when heaven and earth took form, the genesis of the universe. The mitama of the kamisama has divided and been transmitted to us through our ancestors and parents.

Kono utsushiyo o makari naba
Towa no mitama no furusato no kami no mikado ni kaeru nari
When we pass from this visible world, we return to the resplendent abode of the kami, the origin of the enduring mitama.

Kami no mikado wa
Ametsuchi no nagaki inochi ni kotonarazu
Mimi ni kokoezu me ni mienu
Kiyoki nagisa ni shiki nami no yosuru tokoyo no kuni to yu.
The kamisama realm of eternal life remains inaudible and invisible. It is said: in the eternal land of the kamisama, waves gently lap on a beautiful, endless shore.

Tokoyo no kuni ni shirakumo no chie o oshi wake akanesasu
Hi no wakamiya ga tatsu to yu
It is said: in heaven the white clouds are pushed away, and there stands a shrine of the sun which shines a brilliant crimson color.

Yasuku odahi ni masu koto o aogi kohinomi
Utsusomi no ware mo ukara mo hitosuji ni
We who are living in the present world
Earnestly look up in prayer, pleading for abiding peace and tranquility for the Departed.

Kami no mamichi no masamichi o ukegahi matsuri tsutsushimite
We sincerely believe in the true, straight path of the kami.

Oyako harakara mutsumajiku ie o totonoe
Mi o osame kiyoku akaruku urehinaku
Ikuru makoto o ame kakeri kuni kakerishite misonahashi
Parents and children, brothers and sisters—all strive to live clearly and brightly, in happiness and without grief. See how this truth flies through the heavens and soars across the earth!

I have never met him, and only heard of him through my son, his caretaker, but upon hearing of Sensai’s passing, my heart immediately sank into deep sadness. Two-thousand miles away during meditation, I felt his presence enter my spirit and I was lifted and filled with strength and love for this man. How Sensai could have affected me from such a great distance, I do not know. I can only feel that we are all connected and he has graced me with his spirit even if only for a short time.
Please accept my most sincere sympathy for your loss.

Sensei was of course a great Warrior, Master and Teacher.
He was also a comedian, a poet and a beautiful singer.
I was fortunate enough to hear his beautiful song in Ojai, California a few years ago. Barely able to stand, he stood before us and opened his heart and voice in the most moving song. Sensei had the ability to make us laugh and cry all at once. He had the gift of mirroring us with great compassion and unconditional love. I know Sensei is at peace. He is truly an evolved soul, and he gave us all a gift that will last an eternity. My sincere aloha and deep respect to Sensei’s family. My deep gratitude to Carolyn, who cared for Sensei with humility and great warrior spirit. Also I want to extend my appreciation to all of the Kyudo family and friends who surrounded and supported Sensei over the years. Their names are too many to mention, but they hold a place in Sensei’s heart forever. Sensei was like the great eastern Sun itself. We could not help but turn our eyes and hearts toward him, for all that he emanated was of the very highest and noblest way. Mahalo and aloha hui hou Sensei (Until we meet again, may you know all peace and love) Patricia Pace, Maui

Our family was able to meet Shibata Sensei and his wife Carolyn during our tenure at Shambhala Mountain Center. From the moment we met, a deep heart connection arose and grew throughout the years. Allan became a devoted kyudo student and I followed. Kyudo is a big part of how we maintained our hearts open and our minds fairly sane during our time on the mountain. We are so appreciative of Sensei and Carolyn. Their generosity to us and our staff was tremendous. It has been difficult to form words around his passing. His example of devotion, love, being ever present, timelessness, and fortitude has marked our lives. We so wished to have traveled to SMC to physically say farewell. However we are confident in his undying presence in our hearts. This life and the ones to come will be the better for having met the Master Warrior, Kanjuro Shibata XX. We offer a deep deep bow to you Sensei and to you his precious wife Carolyn. With love and appreciation , Allan and Doria Cross